Our Weekend Away

Joe turned 8 months on Friday and our way to celebrate was to take a trip without him or Libby. With the help of MeMe and Pappy (who took Joe) and Aunt Debbie and Uncle John (who kept Libby), Corey and I were able to go to Gaitlinburg TN to spend the weekend in a cabin with our friends Scott and Danielle. It has been a long time since we have had a weekend away and it was truly wonderful.

Scott and Dani had told us they were going on a weekend trip and when we asked if we could join in another cabin, they asked us to just stay with them. It was so fun. We played pool and soaked in the hot tub. We napped and watched movies. It was great to spend time with our friends and away from our kids. Scott made yummy food (I think his perfectly cooked steaks were my favorite-although the lava cake came close), and Corey and I took a really nice walk in the warm weather.

While away, our kids had a wonderful time too. Libby was DOTED upon by Debbie and John. They played "tennis" (badminton) in the hallway and she ate them out of house and home. Joe charmed his MeMe and Pappy with lots of smiles and laughs. He is into everything, but that grin gets him off easy most of the time. I think the weekend was great all around!

In other news, Libby went to the orthopedic doctor yesterday and it looks like we are scheduling surgery for the end of May (after our vacation). He was really pleased that she is walking, but agrees that it is time to correct the tight knee capsule and get her on the road to walking with straight legs. This is an answer to prayer and also a reason to pray. Keep her in your prayers-they have never let us down!

This is Joe trying to get Libby out of the box with the baby broom. He loves his big sis.

We had another fun-filled week with our kids. It is never boring that is FOR SURE! Libby and Joe have started playing more and more. She is sharing (mostly when we ask her to) and playing "catch" with Joe. There are still multiple outbursts a day of "MINE", but we are dealing.
Libby is obsessed with Joe's bottom drawer where the hats live. AT LEAST once a day she gets out hats for ua all to wear.

Wednesday brought Casey and Sami to the house since my mom and dad lost power overnite. It was hilarious! The kids slept okay - Joe woke up a few times- but Casey slept on the couch and I slept on a recliner because the wind was making a piece of our porch ceiling scrape against the siding right outside of the bedroom. It was SO loud. And at 6:00 am I got a wake up call from my dad saying to go get mom because they had no phones or power. So the day began.

The kids had a great time playing. Sami and Libby are able to play and communicate much better now. Libby entertained everyone with her songs and Veggie Tale monologues (she loves Larry Boy from Dave and the Giant Pickle). Luckily Thursday and Friday were a bit more uneventful and we recuperated a bit from the storm. Saturday Libby went for her first trip without Mommy or Daddy. Gramma and PawPaw picked her up and took her to Charleston to visit her Gigis and Aunts and Uncles. From what I hear it was a great trip. Casey's blog should have some pictures as soon as she uploads them. Corey and I (and Joe) spent the evening in Deep Creek with our friends the Allens. It was fun to sit around and play games without an agenda. Joe didn't sleep great, but we all survived! And yesterday we all were home again. Libby came home with pent-up energy and drew all over the walls (cream of tarter mixed with water gets it off the walls) and Joe was spitting up everything (which he hasn't done in a long time). But we were all together and that is good.

Yesterday was not as good of a day for Corey's parents who experienced some serious plane difficulties on their way home from their cruise (an engine went out on their descent into Atlanta). They are ok, but a little (maybe alot) emotionally scarred. So Becky and Rick, this song is for you - so you know you are loved.

Partners in Crime

Libby doesn't always want to play with Joe. In fact she spends much of her day yelling - "No Joe" or climbing for higher ground when he approaches. But I have witnessed a few incidents lately that are showing me a change that is happening in their relationship. The first incident was on Tuesday. My parents kept the kids for a couple of hours while I went to a Young Life meeting and I was late getting back. It was after both of their bedtimes, so we rushed to get everything into the car. I grabbed Libby and my Dad had Joe. But Libby couldn't see that and she was EXTREMELY upset in thinking that I had forgotten Joe. She kept repeat, "Go get Joe?" and "Where Joe". She was so relieved when Dad put him in the car seat. She said "There you go Joe, go Libby house." It was endearing to say the least.

The next incident was no less adorable only frightening as well. I was working the other morning and I heard Libby talking to Joe. This is not uncommon, but she was rooting him on to do something. So imagine my surprise when I came into the family room to see Libby on the landing cheering Joe on as he climbed his third step. He has been pulling up on EVERYTHING but this was his first unattended climb. I was scared, but not so much so that I missed the photo opportunity. Here is Libby enticing Joe up the stairs. Here is Joe's delight at being able to play with his big sis. He is a handful-doing more earlier than any of us expected, but with Libby's help, Corey and I may be in for a whole new level of chaos!